Cool Things Podcasts - 2010
Get an insider's perspective on interesting objects selected by curators at the Kansas Museum of History.
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Developed in Europe during the 1920s, television quickly spread around the world. Its first appearance in Delia, Kansas, came in 1949 when the Rosser family purchased this Admiral home entertainment system. |
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Dressing like Santa Claus has been a tradition for fathers and department store workers for many years, but babies didn't take up the practice until the mid-20th century. This 1963 Santa baby outfit was worn by Kansas newborn Joan Ledeboer. |
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A decade before the end of segregation, a kind woman and a little girl broke through racial barriers in Topeka. This handmade African American doll symbolizes a bond between whites and blacks in the Mudtown neighborhood during the 1940s. |
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The fad in the 1960s was for friends to autograph stuffed animals. This stuffed dog is covered with the signatures of its owner's classmates, as well as the autograph of one very famous coach. |
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Panama hats symbolized power in the first half of the 20th century. This expensive headwear marked the presence of a well-traveled man. Today's episode considers a Panama hat worn by President Harry Truman. |
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Imagine a world in which the living commune with the dead. Most people today find that a bizarre concept, but 100 years ago it was a fun pastime for the Wichita family who used this Ouija board. |
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J.P. Morgan was a powerful man who held vast wealth and controlled finance and transportation around the United States. Should one man be so powerful? Political cartoonist Albert Reid didn't think so, and expressed his distaste in this antitrust cartoon. |
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Politics was a rough business in the 1930s. Kansas governor Alf Landon knew the stakes were high, so he traveled with this lead lectern during the 1936 presidential campaign. |
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. . . You scream, we all scream for ice cream! Hear how farm kids at Kansas State University brought this tasty frozen dessert to the masses when we consider an ice cream box from the K-State dairy. |
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Ladies, are you tired of spending hours at the gym instead of watching TV or napping? Then, the Walton Belt Vibrator is the machine for you! In this segment we consider a 1960s exerciser that will make you long for the good old days when you didn't have to break into a sweat to firm up problem areas. |
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One of the most popular syndicated comic strips in the mid-20th century was Walt Kelly's "Pogo." It offered a satirical take on society and politics. This original strip from 1954 introduced readers to a mythical Kansas bird, the Jayhawk. |
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This summer our nation is taking its 23rd census of the population. These days the forms arrive in the mail, but a century ago census takers went door to door. This satchel was used by one of them in Kansas. |
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At least three Kansas families have enjoyed this tandem bicycle. They all rode in the southern part of the state, where the land is flat but the wind is strong. Riding into a Kansas headwind makes any cyclist appreciate healthy lungs and sturdy legs. |
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There are many symbols for the United States. Perhaps the strongest national personification is the character known around the world as "Uncle Sam." This military recruiting poster has been widely reproduced and caricatured since World War I. |
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Carry Nation makes the top ten on every famous Kansans list for her trademark smashing of illegal saloons. An admirer sent the reformer this heavy hammer to use in her prohibition crusade. |
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In honor of Memorial Day, we consider a service flag that was proudly displayed by a Kansas family during World War I. Their son was serving his country "over there." |
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Baseball has long been known as America's pastime, but like many of our country's institutions, it has a history of racial segregation. Today we consider a program from a 1950s game between two Negro Leagues teams. |
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Gun collectors covet this rare and beautiful 18th century Pennsylvania-made rifle. How did it end up in Kansas? We'd like to know the answer to that question, too! |
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Thousands of buildings were looted of their contents during the Civil War. This quilt from a ransacked South Carolina home has only recently been reunited with its history. |
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We have a dummy in the museum! Not your run-of-the-mill department store mannequin, this figure was a silent partner in training hospital staff and emergency workers during the 1960s. |
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Mining has been big business in southeastern Kansas almost since our state was founded. These mineral samples from the town of Treece speak to the area's mining heritage, as well as its less savory legacy. |
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Most of us had a favorite piece of clothing from childhood. Hear about a dress from the turn of the last century, worn by a girl who would later become a prolific artist. |
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Securing the right to vote was a major milestone for women in America. As we approach Women's History Month, we consider a controversial painting in our collections that commented on the rights of 19th century women in politics and society. It's titled, "American Woman and Her Political Peers." |
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Parents today complain about their kids playing video games, but many of these elders once wasted their time playing pinball. This episode considers a 1960s machine emblazoned with a rock band called "The Bootles" (sound familiar?). Then, we wrap things up with a retrospective of our favorite podcasts to mark our 100th episode. |
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We think nothing of jumping in the car no matter what the weather, but a century ago open cars and dirt roads made it difficult to look good after a drive. This motoring coat protected early-day road warriors from the elements. |
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Some art has strong historical value. These paintings by Croatian American artist Marijana Grisnik depict memories of an old Kansas City neighborhood known as Strawberry Hill.
Check out our award winning Cool Things podcasts from other years. |
What a Doll!
Autograph Dog
Nice Hat, Harry
Texting With the Dead
Eat the Rich
Bulletproof
I Scream
Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
We Go Pogo!
Count Me In
A Bicycle Built for Two
The Most Famous Poster in the World 
If I Had a Hammer 
Over There 
Take Me Out to the Ball Game 
Colonial Rifle
Spoils of War
Mannequins for Dummies
Rock this Town
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Woman
American Woman
Pinball Wizard
Left in the Dust
Strawberry Hill
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A Kansas Memory Podcast: Another podcast from the Kansas Historical Society sharing stories of Kansans -- some famous, some infamous, and some just average folks.
Entry: Cool Things Podcasts - 2010
Author: Kansas Historical Society
Author information: The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the state's history.
Date Created: June 2014
Date Modified: July 2021
The author of this article is solely responsible for its content.
